Mental Illness
Bipolar Disorder Type 2
MENTAL ILLNESS
6/22/20243 min read
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness characterized by mood swings that fluctuate between depression and mania.
Depression is easy to understand, but what about mania?
Mania is the opposite of depression. A person experiencing mania will have excessive happiness, hyperactivity, a reduced need for sleep, and rapid, racing thoughts, which leads to excessive talking.
On the other hand, someone experiencing depression will have extreme sadness, inactivity, a constant desire to sleep, a lack of interest in activities they previously enjoyed, and feelings of hopelessness.
This illness is named Bipolar because "polar" means "poles," and "bipolar" means having two poles. The two poles in this illness refer to mania and depression.
The mood cycle of bipolar disorder can be rapid. Within the same week, a bipolar patient can switch between depression and mania. However, most bipolar patients experience a slow cycle.
This means that the patient will experience a manic state for weeks or months before switching to a depressive state or vice versa.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
There are two types of bipolar disorder:
Bipolar Type 1
For this type, patients experience full episodes of mania and depression. Typically, manic episodes will continue every day for more than a week.
Bipolar Type 2
Patients experience hypomanic symptoms compared to full mania. "Hypo" means less. Hypomania means having fewer manic symptoms. Patients will exhibit symptoms such as excitement, reduced sleep, constant talking, and irritability, but these symptoms only last for about four days compared to more than a week in Bipolar Type 1.
In this condition, family members often perceive the patient as normal because their 'mania' is not as severe as Bipolar Type 1.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Manic Phase Symptoms
High self-confidence, such as excessively posting on social media even when what they say makes no sense.
Hyperactivity.
Significant lack of sleep.
Loss of appetite and weight loss.
Rapid speech. Patients switch topics quickly without finishing previous ones due to an overflow of ideas.
Excessive ideas.
Inability to focus.
Engaging in numerous activities to the point of self-harm, such as suddenly becoming extremely diligent and taking on dangerous tasks.
Reckless spending.
Aggressive behavior.
Depressive Phase Symptoms
Feeling excessively sad and hopeless.
Losing interest in activities they previously enjoyed.
Difficulty sleeping.
Low energy.
Feelings of guilt and low self-esteem.
Constant negative thinking.
Feeling that life is meaningless.
In severe cases, suicidal thoughts may occur.
Like other mental illnesses, bipolar disorder must significantly affect the patient's job, lifestyle, and important aspects of their life.
Causes of Bipolar Disorder
The causes of bipolar disorder are still a mystery. It can result from genetic and environmental factors interacting with each other.
Recent studies suggest that this issue occurs due to certain parts of the brain not producing the correct amount of essential hormones.
Three important brain hormones are serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
Genetic Factors
Since bipolar disorder often involves family members, genetics play a crucial role. Those with a family history of bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of developing the same issue.
If a parent has bipolar disorder, their child has a 10-15% risk of having the same condition.
Environmental Factors
Several environmental factors can trigger bipolar disorder:
A traumatic event that causes extreme stress. When trying to return to normal, the person's mood may swing excessively, leading to mania.
The use of alcohol, drugs, or hormonal issues can initiate bipolar disorder.
Lack of support from others.
Typically occurs during youth.
Medications that can Cause Mania
To confirm if someone has bipolar disorder, they must see a doctor.
The proper procedure involves visiting a health clinic to get a referral to a psychiatric specialist at a hospital.
If the patient's condition is severe, such as aggressive behavior or suicidal thoughts, they should be taken directly to the hospital. There's no need to visit a health clinic first.
A psychiatrist will conduct interviews with the patient and family members to determine if the patient has bipolar disorder.
Several tests, such as blood tests to check blood count, salt levels, thyroid hormone levels, drug tests, and others, are essential because other illnesses can cause symptoms similar to mania or depression.
If another illness causes these symptoms, treatment will focus on that illness. For example, hypothyroidism, which involves low thyroid hormone levels, can cause depression. In this case, thyroid hormone medication will restore the patient's mood and relieve depression.
Treatment
Treatment for bipolar disorder must be supervised by a doctor. Patients should not take medication from a pharmacy without consulting a doctor first.
The treatment depends on the patient's condition. Hospitalization is necessary if the patient:
Poses a danger to themselves.
Poses a danger to others.
Experiences hallucinations.
Is completely unable to perform daily activities.
Exhibits aggressive behavior.
If the patient is not too severe and can still be managed, common treatments for bipolar disorder include:
Mood stabilizers, such as Lithium.
Atypical antipsychotics.
Psychotherapy to help the patient address emotional and mental issues.
This is a brief list of treatments. However, in psychiatry, several other treatments can be provided. It is crucial that treatment is under the supervision of a specialist doctor.
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